Today we’d like to introduce you to Claudia Chappel.
Hi Claudia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I believe that all human beings are born with a unique gift. Mine is art. I cannot remember a time, even before kindergarten, that I wasn’t drawing, painting or making something out of little things I could find around my home. As I got older, art was always my best and favorite subject in school. However, I am a self taught artist, I haven’t been formally trained. In my home, art was considered a hobby. In fact, I was encouraged to get a more traditional education that would lead to a “real” job. After one year of nursing school I dropped out of the program and completed a BS degree in Health Sciences with a specialty in nutrition and preventative medicine. I worked 4 years when I lived in Oregon, for a renowned Cardiologist. For the past 10 years I have become passionate about my dog’s health and took a certification course in canine nutrition.
Now, to make a very long story very short; I got married, moved to the west coast and had two children. After 8 years, I took my kids and drove back to Baltimore. I was a full time single mother who desperately needed a full time job to pay my bills! It seemed like an impossible situation! That’s when a friend introduced me to a new home decorating trend, Custom Hand Painted tiles. People and decorators hired me to paint scenes and designs on tile for kitchen backsplashes, bathroom floors, and more. I found that I could paint anything they wanted. After my first job, I purchased a Kiln and got to work. People loved my style of painting. It was great! I loved it! I was so blessed that I could do my art and, be home and take care of my children emotionally and financially. I was busy with this for almost twenty years. Art was my life saver as it always has been.
Whether it’s the medium, the technique or the subject, my art is as diverse as my personality. I love to experiment. My passion for color drives me as does my love of animals and nature. Art defines me.
In the past 10 years I started making healthy, real food, for my dogs, much like I did for my children. My children never ate food from a jar, my dogs have never eaten kibble nor canned dog food. I understand that this seems unrealistic to many so I decided to write and illustrate a book for people who have an interest. It started small partially because Marty Bass wanted an interview about my book for “Where’s Marty”. I quickly self-published a 56 page paperback version titled “The Art of Feeding your Dog”. It is a science based, fully illustrated guide for those who want to incorporate real food into their dog’s diet. Since then my book has grown to 111 pages and is available in both paperback as well as A Hardcover Coffee -Table, version, perfect for gifting.
The books are available on Amazon as well as any online book seller. They are also available for wholesale through the Ingram group. The book is Beautiful! Every food I write about has a matching page with a painting of that item.
My life has been fraught with challenges but I have always found my way thanks to my inner strength and my commitment to my art and my passions of which there are many and my talent for picking wonderful friends.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My childhood was difficult. My first marriage was abusive. With my 2 babies and $200. in my wallet I left him and drove across the country to come home to my family. My family had no time for us so we started a life on our own. It was both difficult and the beginning of the happiest days of my life. I, for the first time was in total control of my destiny with nobody trying to hurt me. I was still very young and loved being a single mother. Our life was calm, pleasant and loving. Not easy but wonderful until 20 years ago when I got a knock on my door from a policeman. He came to inform me that my son, who was 26 at the time and living in NY was dead. This was and still is my very worst struggle. It changed me and my daughter’s life forever and not in a good way. After 13 years I wrote and illustrated my first book titled “THE ART OF LIVING WITH GRIEF”. I wrote it as a self-soothe book for parents who have lost children. After I discovered people were giving it to others who were suffering from other losses, I wrote a sequel which toughed on life and loss more generally, “AN ILLUSTRATED JOURNEY THROUGH GRIEF”. Both books are found on Amazon.
On another note, I was and still am very dependent on my dogs for support and love. For me, they are a safe haven for the immense love I have with nowhere to express nor get back in return. I can be overly needy with them without pushing them away. Something I don’t want to do to my husband or daughter. I take care of my dogs as if i gave birth to them, which is where my passion for their food comes in. Again, my illustrated, science based book, “THE ART OF FEEDING YOUR DOG” comes from this. Also available on line.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My first 2 books give my art, my pain and my grief a purpose. My dog book gives voice to my passion for art, science and health. I also paint custom pet portraits. I know the painting is complete when the animal comes to life on my canvas. I also love decorating and gardening. I love color especially.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Our city used to be such an interesting and historic place to visit. I have always loved the different ethnic neighborhoods with their ethnic restaurants. I love that we are on the water. When I was a teen I would just drive downtown and walk around, shop and have lunch alone. I wouldn’t do that now. Of late, I’m not happy with the direction the City is going. Most of us do not go downtown due to the gang crime. I think because of the subway, a lot of the crime is migrating into the county as well. I hope and pray someone soon gets into office cleans this up. It’s very sad and disturbing what is happening to Baltimore.
Pricing:
- paperback Grief books $20.
- Hardcover Grief books $40.
- paperback Dog book $25.
- Hardcover Dog book $55
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.claudiachappel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudiachappelart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Theartofdoghealth/
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100031805936778
